Finding the right accommodation is one of the most challenging aspects of traveling. Sometimes all a person knows can only be the word hotel but actually there 10 kinds of lodging, each unique in its own way. Things to consider when choosing a hotel or vacation rental to stay in include your age, budget, destination, length of stay, purpose, noise tolerance level, type of travel companions, hotel location, amenities, and of course the reviews.

The most traditional choice is to find a great hotel somewhere that offers the amenities you want at a price you can afford. At a hotel, you definitely have your own room and bathroom as well as maid service. You will usually have your bags carried to your room, fresh towels delivered, and your bed made up daily. Inside the room you will find a mini refrigerator, wet bar, cable tv, wireless internet, hair dryer, telephone, etc.

For some, a hotel stay may be too pricey. You may also find that some hotels have thin walls separating rooms and corridors. Even if the walls are thick, without door closers, you will constantly hear doors slamming throughout your stay, day and night. Compared to homestays, hostels, b&B, and guest houses, the experience of a hotel stay is relatively impersonal. The security is tighter and socially conducive common areas are not common.

A boutique hotel is a small stylish hotel with less than 100 rooms located in a swanky urban location. It’s usually one of a kind with decor of sleek materials and stark palettes with bold color splashes. It may also reflect the heritage of the location. The service provided is more personal than that of a standard hotel as it is small. The type of customers that boutique hotels attract are usually young and tech savvy with middle income averages.

A typical boutique hotel is usually not affiliated with any franchise so you won’t gain any loyalty points. The restaurant is normally simple and small and can get crowded especially during peak hours. A boutique hotel is also not suitable for business travelers as most won’t have ballrooms or meeting spaces.

A type of hotel that is found commonly in Japan that offers extremely small rooms with only basic amenities like communal washrooms, a locker for storing luggage, television and wireless internet. The biggest benefit of a capsule hotel is the price and convenience, usually around JPY 3000/night. They are mostly used by Japanese locals who are too drunk to return home safely or too embarrassed to face their spouse.

Totally not the place to stay in for claustrophobics. For a fat person, it will feel like sleeping in a coffin. If you want to sleep with your lover, this is also not for you. It is also pretty inconvenient to have to store your belongings in a locker and if your luggage does not fit, it will have to be kept at the front desk. You may hit your head if you suddenly wake up. Moreover, there are usually a list of rules that the hotel expect guests to follow like leaving every day by 10am and not being able to check in again until 2pm.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Altough AMS may not be as large or as busy as it’s other European counterparts, it is still a favourite among passengers as there are lots of interesting stuff to do.

Schiphol Plaza, a shopping area right before customs, has more than 25 shopping outlets selling books, chocolates, fashion wear, electronics, etc. What’s more, when you purchase non perishable items, you instantly receive a 2 year global warranty! And in the event you run out of Euros, you can pay with any other major currency! USD, AUD, JPY, etc. And you can still find shops after customs. How cool is that?!

In 2010, the world’s first airport library opened, providing more than 1,200 books in 29 languages about Holland’s history and culture. You can also download ebooks and music from Dutch artists for free.